After years of driving on the road, you may consider yourself a good driver and for the most part you are correct. You have probably heard a lot of driving tips from a number of people, but how do you know if they are true or not. Here is a list of five common driving misconceptions you have probably heard.

1.“If you get into a skid, put your vehicle in neutral”

We all dread the moment your car starts to skid and you are left with seconds to make a decision. You have probably been told that “putting your vehicle into neutral will help you straighten your wheels” from family or friends. However, this tip only works for some vehicles. If the back end of your front-wheel-drive vehicle is skidding, the best option to straighten your wheels is to apply power. If you have shifted neutral, you will be unable to apply force to pull yourself out.

“Rushing up to red lights will save time”

It is never a good idea to accelerate before making a stop. When coming up to a red light it is best to gradually slow down than to rush to a red light. Gradually reducing speed will reduce the chances of being hit from behind and will save you fuel and brake wear.

“All-wheel drive is a safety feature”

Do not be fooled by auto manufacturers that hint in commercials that all-wheel drive is a safety feature. All-wheel drive is a performance feature that only affects the vehicle’s dynamics, like acceleration. All-wheel drive will not allow your tires to grip more for braking or steering. All-wheel drive leads drivers feeling overconfident on roads that are actually slippery and unsafe.

“Fog lights”

Most of us drive with our fog lights on at night even though there isn’t a sign of fog anywhere. Fog lights are designed to be used when the fog is so dense the headlights reflect back off the water droplets in the fog and make vision difficult. It is best to leave them off when driving, so not to blind oncoming drivers.

“Wider tires give you more rubber on the road”

This is a common misconception that many people defend. People will argue that more rubber will give your vehicle more traction on the road, while in fact, wider tires change the shape but not the size of the contact patch. This is only true as long as the weight of the vehicle and the tire pressure stay the same.